Greerton

Greerton, comprising the statistical areas of Greerton South and Greerton North, had a population of 4,128 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 393 people (10.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 432 people (11.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,671 households. There were 1,926 males and 2,205 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.87 males per female, with 762 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 828 (20.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,593 (38.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 945 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.5% European/Pākehā, 20.2% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 11.0% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 19.9%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 49.6% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 2.8% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 6.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 402 (11.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 843 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,488 (44.2%) people were employed full-time, 450 (13.4%) were part-time, and 135 (4.0%) were unemployed.[1]

It was originally a small village located several kilometers south of Tauranga but was swallowed up by urban development. A military village of 125 one acre lots, the Township of Greerton, was surveyed near Gate Pa. Military settlers were allowed a choice of one acre there or a quarter acre in Te Papa. Originally, very few settlers took up town sections in Greerton.[3]

In 1864 the battle of Gate Pa was fought in the neighbouring suburb of Gate Pa with Maori troops withdrawing through Greerton to Pyes Pa.[4][5]

The Greerton community celebrates the cherry blossom festival in the third week of September every year.[6]

Greerton has two co-educational state primary schools: Greerton Village School,[7][8] with a roll of 375,[9] and Greenpark School,[10] with a roll of 706.[11]

Greerton is also zoned for Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College.[12][13]

Tauranga Racecourse is situated on Cameron Road next to Tauranga Golf Course, at the top end of Greerton Village.

Greerton also has two parks: Pemberton Park and Yatton Park.